The West Midlands Metro network is currently the only UK tramway which is seeing any active extension/construction works taking place (although with recent government announcements that is something which should change in the next few years). There are two main projects with both the Birmingham Eastside and Black Country lines being built, and both will end up being two (or possibly three in the latter case) phase projects. In this article we head to the Birmingham Eastside line to see recent work around Albert Street.
Ultimately the Eastside extension will run for 1.7km between the Bull Street/Corporation Street junction in Birmingham City Centre to High Street Deritend. But owing to complications with construction also taking place for HS2 at Curzon Street it won’t be possible for all the tram works to be completed at the same time. This led to an agreement for a temporary terminus to be built by the Clayton Hotel which will allow part of the line to open – hopefully by the end of 2025.
This is a view looking towards the city (and the current tramway). The Albert Street tramstop (which will be the first stop on the extension, the temporary terminus will be the second) is on the right.
The new road junction between Albert Street and Moor Street Queensway.
The tramline seen here takes the extension out of the city and onto the Clayton Hotel to start with (and High Street Deritend eventually). The island platform is on the left.
A view across Moor Street Queensway. Albert Street tramstop is in the centre of the shot and we see an overhead line pole dead centre. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 8th July 2025)